The 6 Best Over-the-Counter Products for UTI Symptom Relief

AZO is one of the most popular over-the-counter brands for urinary tract infections, and really for anything urinary-related. These tablets are formulated with phenazopyridine hydrochloride as the number one ingredient.

“It helps numb the bladder and decreases the pain associated with a bladder infection,” Dr. Mirabal says. “It is generally safe except in patients with kidney disease or those that are allergic, but use is usually limited to two days.”

Use it to ease UTI symptoms while you wait for the antibiotics to kick in.

According to Dr. Rodgers, over-the-counter pain relievers — and specifically NSAIDs such as naproxen (Aleve) or ibuprofen — can help with pain associated with UTIs.

Aleve is a great choice, especially for UTIs, because it provides 12 hours of relief, so you only need to take two pills in an entire day to feel a reduction in your symptoms.

It doesn’t treat the UTI in any way, though, so you'll still need to see your doctor for antibiotics.

The chemicals used in these test strips are the same ones your doctor uses to test whether or not you might have a UTI, so if you’re unsure, you can purchase this over-the-counter product to find out if your symptoms are related to this condition.

You hold one test strip in your stream of urine for one to two seconds, and within two minutes, you have your results.

This way, you can call your doctor with more information than your symptoms alone, which may help you get a speedier diagnosis and treatment.

Concentrated cranberry juice or cranberry tablets have been shown to reduce the chances of having a bladder infection, according to a January 2021 systematic review in Antibiotics.

These are in general safe to take, Dr. Mirabal says. He also points out that the tablets tend to be more concentrated than drinking cranberry juice, and they typically don't come with added sugar.

This brand can help provide relief from the burning, discomfort and frequent urination associated with UTIs, but it does not treat the infection in any way.

Probiotic supplements are all the rage for gut health, but they may have other benefits, too. Research, including one September 2018 study in the Turkish Journal of Urology, found that certain strains of probiotics (particularly L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. reuteri) may help prevent UTIs.

This over-the-counter supplement has a potent blend of both cranberry extract and probiotics to hone in on proper urinary health for the long-term.

Talk to your doctor about taking it if you're prone to recurring UTIs.

D-mannose is a type of sugar that naturally exists in your body akin to glucose. It’s also found in a variety of fruits, including apples, oranges, cranberries and blueberries.

D-mannose has shown promise as a supplement to help reduce the symptoms of urinary tract infections, according to a July 2016 pilot study in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences.

"It is believed that D-mannose might work to treat or prevent a UTI by stopping bacteria or E. coli from adhering and ascending up the urethra," says Iris Orbuch, MD, an ob-gyn based out of New York and Los Angeles, and author of Beating Endo.

"This product comes in a powder form, so it’s easy to mix into drinks and help flush out bacteria from the body that could be causing UTIs."